This other Servant will sprinkle the nations. Praise God for His salvation.
Isaiah 51: The LORD's Comfort for Zion
1 "Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug.
2 Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one when I called him, that I might bless him and multiply him.
3 For the LORD comforts Zion; he comforts all her waste places and makes her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song.
4 "Give attention to me, my people, and give ear to me, my nation; for a law will go out from me, and I will set my justice for a light to the peoples.
5 My righteousness draws near, my salvation has gone out, and my arms will judge the peoples; the coastlands hope for me, and for my arm they wait.
6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and they who dwell in it will die in like manner; but my salvation will be forever, and my righteousness will never be dismayed.
7 "Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear not the reproach of man, nor be dismayed at their revilings.
8 For the moth will eat them up like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool; but my righteousness will be forever, and my salvation to all generations."
9 Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in days of old, the generations of long ago. Was it not you who cut Rahab in pieces, who pierced the dragon?
10 Was it not you who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made the depths of the sea a way for the redeemed to pass over?
11 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
12 "I, I am he who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass,
13 and have forgotten the LORD, your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, and you fear continually all the day because of the wrath of the oppressor, when he sets himself to destroy? And where is the wrath of the oppressor?
14 He who is bowed down shall speedily be released; he shall not die and go down to the pit, neither shall his bread be lacking.
15 I am the LORD your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar--- the LORD of hosts is his name.
16 And I have put my words in your mouth and covered you in the shadow of my hand, establishing the heavens and laying the foundations of the earth, and saying to Zion, 'You are my people.'"
17 Wake yourself, wake yourself, stand up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the LORD the cup of his wrath, who have drunk to the dregs the bowl, the cup of staggering.
18 There is none to guide her among all the sons she has borne; there is none to take her by the hand among all the sons she has brought up.
19 These two things have happened to you--- who will console you?--- devastation and destruction, famine and sword; who will comfort you?
20 Your sons have fainted; they lie at the head of every street like an antelope in a net; they are full of the wrath of the LORD, the rebuke of your God.
21 Therefore hear this, you who are afflicted, who are drunk, but not with wine:
22 Thus says your Lord, the LORD, your God who pleads the cause of his people: "Behold, I have taken from your hand the cup of staggering; the bowl of my wrath you shall drink no more;
23 and I will put it into the hand of your tormentors, who have said to you, 'Bow down, that we may pass over'; and you have made your back like the ground and like the street for them to pass over."
Isaiah 52: The LORD's Coming Salvation
1 Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for there shall no more come into you the uncircumcised and the unclean.
2 Shake yourself from the dust and arise; be seated, O Jerusalem; loose the bonds from your neck, O captive daughter of Zion.
3 For thus says the LORD: "You were sold for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money."
4 For thus says the Lord GOD: "My people went down at the first into Egypt to sojourn there, and the Assyrian oppressed them for nothing.
5 Now therefore what have I here," declares the LORD, "seeing that my people are taken away for nothing? Their rulers wail," declares the LORD, "and continually all the day my name is despised.
6 Therefore my people shall know my name. Therefore in that day they shall know that it is I who speak; here am I."
7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns."
8 The voice of your watchmen---they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the LORD to Zion.
9 Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem.
10 The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
11 Depart, depart, go out from there; touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves, you who bear the vessels of the LORD.
12 For you shall not go out in haste, and you shall not go in flight, for the LORD will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.
He Was Wounded for Our Transgressions
13 Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted.
14 As many were astonished at you--- his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind---
15 so shall he sprinkle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand.
Things to think about…
1. Identity is everything. Isaiah encourages people to remember who they are, Isa 51:1. The Lord through His Servant has shown righteousness and salvation to the nations, vs 5. The point of it all is Isa 51:6 – salvation is forever and righteousness will never be dismayed. The heavens will vanish and the earth wear out, but our calling has an eternal focus and destiny. We are not vain labourers. As such we should keep striving to enter through the narrow gate that leads to life.
2. The nations will be put to shame, Isa 51:7-11. Just as Israel walked on dry land through the Red Sea and Rahab (Egypt) was destroyed for the redeemed to pass through, vs 11. So too will the redeemed of the Lord come with singing back to Zion. This was partially fulfilled when a remnant returned from captivity in Babylon in 536BC, but we are seeing many Jews return to Israel in our day. Not only will they return but one day they shall see Jesus as their true Messiah and joy shall be upon their heads, vs 11.
3. God is the One who comforts Israel, Isa 51:12, yet they rebel against Him, vss 13. But the Lord will release (forgive) them and they shall lack no bread, vs 14. Just as the Lord delivered Israel through the Red Sea, He is still the One who controls the wind and the waves, vs 15. The disciples of course had this confirmed in the boat when Jesus stills the wind and waves at a word “Be still”, Mk 4:39.
4. The Lord says of Israel, “I have put My words in your mouth…you are My people”, Isa 51:16. He says therefore “wake yourself…stand up”, vs 17. This was true of the Lord Jesus and the Lord’s people are called to be an example and a witness to the Lord’s goodness. We are called to be a witness for our Lord every area of our lives, with all our heart, mind soul and strength. The Saviour has come who conquers sin and death. There is no better news.
5. The Lord says again in Isa 52:1 “Awake, awake, put on strength”. May the church awake and put on the strength of Christ with garments of praise. Israel was sold without money so she shall be redeemed without money, vs 3 but at a great cost. We know this was the blood of the Saviour, Jesus. The Lord says, “shake yourself from the dust and arise”, vs 2. The world should have no attraction for us. May we awake with Christ’s strength and shake off the dust of this world with its desires. As Jesus told the disciples to shake the dust off their feet of any town that did not accept the good news of God’s grace, Matt 10:14.
6. The Lord delivered from Egypt and Babylon without price, Isa 52:4,5. The same is true with the gospel. Israel will one day know their Saviour by name, vs 6. Jesus has paid it all, hence, how beautiful “are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation”, Yeshua (Jesus), their God reigns, vs7. In the same way we are His watchmen, who lift up our voices and sing for joy as we see the return of the Lord, vs 8. This is our whole calling – to watch and declare. Our Lord is coming back and we are called to watch and be ready. As such we sing for joy, vs 8 and break forth into singing as the Lord restores what was destroyed by captivity and sin, vs 9.
7. Everyone knows about Jesus, “The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God”, Isa 52:10. As such we touch no unclean thing, vs 11, the Lord goes before us, vs 12. This is unlike those who left Egypt in haste, taking no leaven of the land. But we do not flee in fear, vs 12 for the Lord is our protector and defender. But we boldly declare who Jesus is, He defends His word. We are simply called to be faithful.
8. Who is this servant who “shall be high and lifted up,” in Isa 52:13? Whose appearance is “marred beyond recognition, One who will sprinkle many nations”, vs 14 etc. Of course it is Jesus Christ on the cross who sprinkles the nations with His blood as a sacrifice for sin. This gospel goes out beyond Israel, the nations would be the ones who would see and understand, Isa 52:15. Remember the reverse was true of Israel and part of Isaiah’s calling and ministry was to go to a people who would not hear, see or understand – Isa 6:9,10. May Aussies have their ears, eyes and hearts open to the gospel of Jesus Christ this season.
Vision statement for CBC
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Life groups Wednesdays. Ric Benson group will be on break for the next 2 weeks of holidays.
Pastor Jay has started the young adult’s life group after Sunday mornings café time. On break over the holiday period.
Prayer Points
1. Anna is advertising for a Playgroup to be started at CBC. Please pray the Lord blesses this outreach.
2. Pray for all the new people and contacts over Easter. Some people had never been to church. Pray for them that they continue to see Christ.
3. Conflict in Israel and Ukraine.
4. Those who are travelling over Easter and holiday period. Many people have already lost lives on Qld roads this year.
5. Those who are considering baptism.
6. Church finances to cover all expenses.
7. Pray for new Playgroup outreach, Kids@Church, Life groups and church community days.
8. Mathys has a prayer time at church on Monday afternoons. He would be happy for you to join him and to send prayer requests.
9. That we be bold in our witnessing for Christ. Pray for a heart to see those around you to be saved. Pray for the blessing over the new pastoral care and hosting program.
10. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. Thankyou Lord for the joy and teaching time on Sunday.
2. Praise the Lord for ministry opportunities at Kidz@church and Playgroup.
3. Continue to pray for Tad to gain strength at home. Good to see him at church yesterday. Continue to pray for Glenys as she now has a splint to gain full use in her left arm. Any encouragement you can give will be greatly appreciated.
4. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. All Life Groups Wednesday on holidays for 2 weeks.
2. Kids@Church on break over the school holidays.
3. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
4. Tune in again this week on our YouTube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism questions for April...
Q. 19. Do you have a soul as well as a body? A. Yes; I have a soul that can never die.
